[fc] Re: Proposal

[Aaron Laffin <laffinaw@visi.com>]

On Thu, 7 Oct 1999, Rik van Riel wrote:

> On Thu, 7 Oct 1999, D Clyde Williamson wrote:
> 
> > I would like to submit, foir the approval of the group a document,
> > I originally wrote for internal use. I think it may need to be
> > revised so that we in no way look as though we're spreading FUD
> > about Microsoft.
> 
> It's no FUD, but it's no fud debunking either. I was planning to
> use this as a place to inform users of issues and take out the
> uncertainty that was introduced by marketeers.

I think its a good paper, but its only relation to debunking FUD about
Linux is the perception that Linux is more secure than anything MS
produces and MS "ones-up" Linux by hiding the truth.  The question here
is should this site be committed to debunking direct attacks towards
Linux or general setting the record straight in regards to our foe's
omissions [where Linux advocacy will benefit].

> Then again, we could just add a security section and a press
> release analyzer if there's enough interest :)

This is a good idea in setting the record straight in cases of direct
attact, such as the Linux Myths page.  I seem to remember a page posted
by MS some time back that was quite similar.  Everyone went thought
the usual round or refute just as the most recent example.  Fortunately
none of the "big readership" pubs would touch such a daring target with
a ten foot pole for fear of crispy burns.  In that case and probably
this, MS is probably testing our response.

> regards,
> 
> Rik

I do like some of Rik's original comments about coming up with a place
to inform and enlighten people about the positives of Linux.  Over the
years I've read many case studies about uses of Linux (less anecdotal)
from many places, including LJ.  However, there is no place where these
cases are published or presented in a consistent manner to which a PHB
can read about the great successes with Linux.  I thought that maybe
some of the advocacy groups (now including this one) and places like
LinuxPR would try to fill such a role.  To date I have not seen a 
one-stop-shop for Linux case studies.  I'm of the view that we can talk
all day about how my OS beats your OS at this benchmark and we have this
feature point and you don't, but it doesn't make a difference when it
comes to the most important decision point -- experience.  My belief is
in most cases decision makers make decisions based on experience, and
lacking experience, they look for third party experience (consultants)
and things like case studies.  The consultants are popping up all over
the place with experience but still need independent fodder.  If we
could tap consultants (or simply people like you and I) to discuss our
best experiences, we could leverage this less anecdotal knowledge to
strengthen the case for Linux (and of course counter FUD).

Ok, now that I've rapped on case studies for a while, I'll thow this
back and see what others want to do.  Maybe we just need to decide a
charter for this site.

--aaron

Aaron Laffin
laffinaw@acm.org or A.Laffin@computer.org


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